Pneumatic action.



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APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1907.

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O @.k Mw L@ N A 4f N wwf wm No. 879,786. PATENTED PEB.18, I908.

H. MEYER. PNEUMATIG ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TOF/VE /Sl l A//l v HERMANN MEYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

Specication of Letters Patent.

patented Feb. is, 1(738.

Application led May 17. 1907. Serial No. 374.117.

To all whom 'it may concer/n:

- Be it known that l, HERMANN MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Pneumatic Action, of which the following is' afull, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to self-players, selfplaying pianos and like musical instruments, and its object is to provide a new and im*l proved pneumatic action, which is simple, durable and compact in construction, to ermit its convenient installation above the rey board for direct connection with the piano or other action. y

rlhe invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described herein after and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this speciticaiton, in'which similar characters of reference indicate corres onding parts in all the views.

lligure l is a cross section of the improve-A ment on the line 1*-1 of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is. a rear 'end elevation of the same 3 Fig. 3 is a sectionaltront elevation of the same on the line S-Bct Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan` view ol' the saine on the line 4 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of one of the 'valves inside of a pneumatic; and Fig.

6 is a cross section of a piano provided with slide in a suitable bearing arranged in the top board F of the pneumatic action, and which to board is secured to the top of the suction c iamber A. The up er vend of each lifter rod E engages the un er side of the trent' end of a corresponding jack rocker G oi the piano action,so that when a pneumatic D, D, D2 or D3 collapses, then a swinging motion is given to the corresponding jack A rocker G to actua-te the corresponding hamnier, with a view vto sound the desired string. Dy the arrangement described the piano can be readily played by hand without inter- Vference with the pneumaticraction.

ln each of the rails C, C, C2, C3 aie ar ranged or formed diaphragm chambers H, one for each pneumatic D, D, D2 or D3, and in each diaphragm chamber H is arranged a diaphragm l dividing the diaphragm chamberHinto the air chamber H and the suction chamber H2, ot' which the latter is connected by a port a with the interior of the main suction chamber A. -The air chamber H" of each-diaphragm chamber H is connected with a pipe J extending through the main suction chamber A and connecting at its upper end with a channel Fl formed in the top board F and containing a short pipe or nipple F2 connectedby the usual flexible tube K with an opening in the tracker board.

The fixed member ol' each of the pneumatics D, D, D2, D3 is provided with an eX- haust port band an air inlet port c opening to the atmosphere, and the said ports and c are controlled by valves L and L/ arranged on the' ends of a valve lever L2 fulcrumed at or near its middle at L3 on the fixed member of the corresponding pneumatic D, D', D`-, D3, as plainly illustrated in the drawings, it being understood that the valve mechanism mentioned is arranged inside of the corresponding/pneumatic. The port l) of each pneumatic D, D, D2, or D3 opens into the suction chamber H12 ofthe corresponding diaphragm chamber H, and the valve L for opening and closing this port bis engaged by a button N held on a screw i\ screwing in the diaphragm l at or near the middle thereof, so that the diaphragm l controls the opening,

and closinOr of the valve mechanism, that is, normally the valve L is closed at the' port b, while the valve L' is open at the portfc. Now when a tracker board opening is uncovered and air passes through the tracker board opening, the tube K, the nipple F2, the channel F and the pipe J, into the air chamber H of the corresponding diaphragm chamber H, then the diaphragm l moves downward and .consequently the button N actuates the valve mechanism, so that the valve L opens yand uncovers the port while the other valve L swings into a closed position on the port c, thus cutting oft atmospheric air from the interior of the pneumatic D, D, D2 or D3. When this takes place,l the interior of the pneumatic is connected by the open port b -with the suction chamber and by way of the port a, with themain suction chamber A, so that the pneumatic is collapsed and consequenttlly the lifter rod E of this pneumatic actua es the corresponding jack rocker G,

5 for actuating the hammer and sounding the proper string. As soon as the tracker board opening is again covered bythe note sheet, then the diaphragm I returns, and with it the valve mechanism, to normal position, as

shown in Fi 1; that is, the valve L moves into Va close position'to disconnect the interior of 1 the pneumatic from the `suction chambers H2 and A, while the valve L moves into an open position; that is, uncovers the port c to allow atmospheric air to pass into the previously collapsed pneumatic, to return the same to open position. -A

he pneumatics, the controlling valve mechanisms and the diaphragm chambers in the several tiers are staggered, as plainly shown in Fig.,2, to readilyT accommodate the A entire pneumatic action required for a piano in an exceedingly small space, thus permitting the installation of the pneumatic action directlyabove the rear of the key board, and

allowing connecting the pneumatics directly with the jack rockers of the piano action, as

describedl and shownand Without interference With the p'iano action when it is desired to play the piano by hand.

As the tracker board and the driving mechanism for the note sheet is usually located in the upper portion of the piano casing, it is evident that only very short tubes K are required, thus reducingthe expense and decreasing thedanger of leakage by long, defective tubes. By locating the tubes J within the main suction chamber A, a large amount of space otherwise required for accommodating the tubes J is saved. The valve mechanism Within each pneumatic D, D, D2 or D3, 4is so arranged that the valve L is slightlyoverbalanced by the v`alve L, to insure a very quick action of thepneumatic,

for ,the latter to open and collapse almost instantly. p

The leak connection between the chambers H', H2 is by the use of a hole lafe-Hned directly in the diaphragm I, and hence when the diaphragm is actuated it prevents dust and other impurities from settling and clogging up the leak hole I', as'the vibration of the diaphragm shakes 0H the dust and revents the same from settling'in the hole of the diaphra mf,

Having' t us described my invention, l claim as newv and desire to secure by Letters Patent: l

. 1. A pneumatic action provided with a 50 suction chamber for connection with a suc- 'tion device', a diaphragm chamber on the said suction chamber 'and .having a dia-,- phragm, the suction side of the diaphragmv chamber being connected withfthe said suc-i tion chamber, a :pipe for scorrnectionrwi'th';

vlin

l the tracker board and extending throu h` the suction clramber to connect with t e pressure side of the diaphragm chamber, a pneumatic havinr one member fixed to the said diaphragm chamber at the suction side thereofythe said -ixed' member being provided with an air inlet port and an air exhaust port leading to the exhaust -side of the diaphragm chamber, and a swinging valve lever having valvesat the ends for controlthe said ports, the valves being "contro yed by the said'diaphragm.

2. A` pneumatic action providedy with a suction chamber for connection with a suction device, a diaphragm chamber on the said suction chamber and having a diaphragm, the suction side of the diaphragm chamber being connected with the said suction chamber, a pipe for' connection with the tracker board andextending through the suction chamber to connect with the pressure side of the .diaphra m chamber, a pneumatic having one mem er iixed to the said Vdiaphragm chamber at the suction side thereof, the said ixed member being provided with an air inlet port and an air exhaust port leadin to the'exhaust side of the ldiaphragm cham er, and aswinging valve lever having valves at the ends for controllin .the said ports, the valves being contro ed bythe said diaphragm by way of the said exhaust port.

3. A pneumatic action provided with a suction chamber for connection with a suction device, a diaphragm chamber on the said, suction chamber and having4 a diaphragm, the suction side of the diaphragm chamber being connected with the said snction chamber, a pipe for connection with the 'tracker board and extending through the suction chamber to connectwith tli'e pressure side ofthe diaphragm chamber, a pneumatic having an air inlet port and an air exhaust port leading to the exhaust side of the diaphragm chamber, a swinging valve lever having valves at the ends for controlling the said ports, and 'a button on the said chamber being connected with the said suction chamber, a pipe for connection with the .tracker board and extending through the suction chamber to connect with the pres-A sure side of the diaphragm chamber, a pneu-- matic having one mem er fixed to the said i'io diaphragm .and engaging the exhaust port diaphragm chamber at the' suction side thereof, thesaid fixed member beingprovided with an air inlet port and an air exhaust port leadin 'to the exhaust side of the diaphragm cham er, a swinging valve lever zic/9,786

having valves at the ends for controlling the said ports, and a button on the said. diaphragm and engaging the exhaust port valve. 5. A pneumatic action comprising` a suf tion chamber connected With a suction di vice, rails arranged in tiers and each being provided with a plurality of diaphragm chambers, opening at the suction side into the said suction chamber, tracker board pipes one for each diaphragm chamber, the said pipes extending through the said suction chamber, and the said pipes connecting at one end with the tracker board and at the other end with the pressure side of the corresponding diaphragm chamber, and pneumatics on the said rails and connected with the open air and the said diaphragm chambers at the suction side thereof.

" 6. A pneumatic action comprising a suction chamber connected With a suction device, rails arranged in tiers and each being provided with 'a plurality. of diaphragm chambers opening at the suction side into the said 'suction chamber, tracker board pipes, one for each diaphragm chamber, the said pipes extending through the said suction chamber, and the said pipes connecting at one end with the tracker board and at the other end with the pressure side of the corresponding diaphragm chamber, and pneumatics arranged in tiers, the pneumatics in` one tier having each one member fixed to the said rail, the fixed member having an air inlet port and an exhaust port leading to the suction side of the diaphragm chamber, and valves within the said pneumatic and controlling the said ports, the valves being controlled by the diaphragm in the said diai one end with the tracker board and at the other end With the pressure side of the corresponding diaphragm chamber, and pneu matics arranged in tiers, the pneumatics in one tier having each one member iixed to the said rail, the fixed member having an air inlet port and an exhaust port leading to the suction sideA of the diaphragm chamber, valves Within the said pneumatic and controlling the said ports, and a button on the diaphragm in the said diaphragm chamber and engaging one of the said valves by Way of the said exhaust port. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HERMANN MEYER. Witnesses THEO. G. Hos'rnn, EVERARD B. MARSHALL. 

